Time constraints and the news events of the week -- Roy Williams' trade and Jon Kitna's going on injured reserve -- preempted our weekly Lions Lowdown video segment, but here's my three keys to a Detroit victory, which I don't think is coming this week:

• Protect Dan Orlovsky. Orlovsky was mediocre in his first career NFL start last week. He did a good job managing the game considering the Lions' poor field position and threw for 150 yards, but he also ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety and was sacked six times. Houston's defensive front isn't on par with Minnesota's -- the Texans have just seven sacks this year -- but Mario Williams is one of the most dominent defensive ends in the game. Orlovsky needs time to work if the Lions are going to keep up with Houston's high-powered offense.

• Balance the blitz. The Lions did a great job of getting to Minnesota's Gus Frerotte with a stream of blitzes last week and they want to pressure Houstons' Matt Schaub tomorrow. But Schaub is more mobile than Frerotte and the Lions haven't been great containing quarterbacks this year. Receiver Andre Johnson is problematic, too, especially when he's left in one-on-one coverage. It's up to defensive coordinator Joe Barry to find the right balance between keeping Schaub on his heels and preventing big plays.

• Win the turnover battle. That, more than anything, is why the Lions stayed in the game so long last week. They forced three turnovers, including an Adrian Peterson fumble on the goal line, and when they couldn't put the game away it was because of their own mistake (a disputed Calvin Johnson fumble in Minnesota territory). Houston is last in the NFL with a minus-8 turnover ratio' the Lions are tied for 29th at minus-4. Whoever wins the battle stands a good chance of winning the game.